New York Islanders News

Rangers-Islanders in 3D
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March 18
New York Times
 
"MSG Network will show next Wednesday's Islanders-Rangers game in 3D, the first time a hockey game has been carried in the technology, the network said. It will be available to Cablevision subscribers and offered to other providers. The game will also be shown on a screen at the Theater at Madison Square Garden."
Islanders surprise slow-starting Canucks 5-2
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March 17
Vancouver Province
 
"They never had a chance. It was written in black and white for all to see. The New York Islanders saw the summation of what was supposed to unfold Tuesday well before the first puck was dropped at GM Place. In The Province's game-day presentation page, all six categories gave the Vancouver Canucks the edge in goal, defence, forwards, power play, penalty kill and even grit. Oh, the Islanders noticed all right. The page was taped to the dressing-room wall and gave the Islanders incentive. If that wasn't enough, they got an added boost from a lethargic start by the Canucks en route to a surprise 5-2 victory that ended a seven-game home-ice win streak for the Northwest Division leaders. It ..."
Islanders hope Lightning strikes again as draft god John Tavares sputters along Stamkos' trail
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March 17
Vancouver Sun
 
"When Matt Moulson looks at housemate John Tavares, he doesn't see a golden child struggling to grasp the stardom being shovelled towards him. He sees a kid he has known for years who remains singularly driven to being among the best, and soon will be in the National Hockey League. Tuesday provided a pretty good preview. Tavares had five points in the New York Islanders' 5-2 reality check against the Vancouver Canucks. It was his first NHL game in Vancouver. So, how do you like him so far? "I sure hoped it was coming," Tavares said after the best night of his rookie season. "It's nice when everything starts to click, starts to go in. It feels good. I knew I proved myself early on in the ..."
Lackluster Canuck team falls 5-2 to New York Islanders
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March 17
Vancouver Sun
 
"The Vancouver Canucks had feasted on Eastern Conference teams all season and the New York Islanders were supposed to be nothing more than a tasty dessert. Instead, they proved to be as tough as five-dollar steak on Tuesday night. The Islanders, Vancouver's last Eastern opponent this season, grabbed a 3-0 lead and skated to a 5-2 win over the Canucks at General Motors Place. "It was very disappointing," said Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, who started but did not finish the game. "I think we came into the game and we weren't really respecting the opposition. They came out strong, they made some plays and the next thing you know it's 2-0. "We have come back before, but it's not going to ..."
Islanders ship out west
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March 16
New York Post
 
"The Islanders started a winning streak for the first time in nearly two months when they beat the Maple Leafs 4-1 on Sunday. As a reward, they got to go directly to Vancouver for a three-game West Coast trip. The two-game streak is most likely too little, too late, and with reality setting in, the Isles have turned most of their attention to monitoring how their young players are developing. "These last two years, we're finding out what our prospects are made of," said coach Scott Gordon, whose team visits the Canucks tonight (10:00, MSG Plus, WMJC 94.3 FM) before facing the Ducks and Kings."
Leafs, Isles on parallel paths
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March 15
Toronto Sun
 
"Maybe next year, the Maple Leafs and Islanders can fight for something more meaningful than 28th place. Perhaps one of the coveted eight playoff spots that has been denied both teams since the lockout - as they've gone through various painful rebuilding missteps - will be the target. Each team has moved towards youth. They both have explosive young forwards and a key European defenceman. Of course, the Isles' situation is complicated by the team's long-term future in this area, tied to a much-discussed but yet-to-be built commerciual project, not to mention their multi-millionaire goaltender Rick DiPietro's knee woes. But with John Tavares aboard, a first overall choice that the envious ..."
Isles settle score with Phaneuf in 4-1 win over Leafs
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March 15
Toronto Star
 
"New York forward Matt Martin says the memory of Dion Phaneuf's pre-season hit on Islanders teammate Kyle Okposo is one his team won't soon forget. Phaneuf was a member of the Calgary Flames at the time, but that didn't stop the Islanders from exacting their revenge with a 4-1 victory Sunday over Phaneuf and the Leafs. The game featured two young clubs and the two last place teams in the Eastern Conference."
Isles win one light on buzz
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March 15
New York Post
 
"The last time Scott Gordon and Ron Wilson coached in the same game, Gordon was Wilson's assistant for Team USA in last month's riveting Olympic gold-medal game against Canada. Yesterday's match between the Islanders and Maple Leafs didn't have quite the same excitement -- no dramatic, final-minute Zach Parise goals, no Sidney Crosby overtime game-winners. Instead, the two struggling teams at the bottom of the Eastern Conference were mainly jockeying for draft position, and the Isles won, 4-1. It was their first win in consecutive games -- they beat the Devils 4-2 on Saturday -- since a four-game winning streak in January. "The last two games we've had a never-say-die attitude and we'll ..."
Islanders beat Maple Leafs, 4-1, to stay alive in playoff race
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March 15
New York Daily News
 
"Such has been life all season in the lower half of the Eastern Conference. Why should anything change now? A few days after seemingly sealing another summer in the draft lottery, the Islanders earned two straight wins - and five points in three games - to move back within seven points of No.8 Boston in the playoff hunt. They also are seven better than the worst team in the conference, the Maple Leafs, whom the Isles downed, 4-1, Sunday night at the Coliseum before embarking on a three-game Western swing. Beware the Isles of March, indeed. "I said it to all the guys, we have to have a never-say-die attitude and that's been big for us," said Blake Comeau, who has recorded three assists for ..."
Weight is over: Islanders captain opts for surgery
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March 15
New York Post
 
"The Islanders' season is all but over and now Doug Weight's officially is. His career, he hopes, is not. The 39-year-old team captain announced yesterday that he will have surgery to repair the torn rotator cuff and labrum in his left shoulder that he has been playing with for the past two months. And although Weight won't be back on the ice this year, he said he intends to return next year. "It's a pretty intrusive surgery, but I'm going into it with aspirations of still playing hockey," Weight said before the Isles hosted the Devils at the Coliseum last night, adding that he's shooting to be 100 percent by September. "I still have the fire in my stomach. My legs feel very strong. The ..."
Brodeur sits out as Devils lose to Islanders, 4-2
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March 14
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Jacques Lemaire made just one change in the lineup from the group that defeated the Penguins Friday night in Newark, starting Yann Danis in goal instead of Martin Brodeur. The coach announced the move in his pregame briefing with reporters, and then had a little fun when asked about his decision to give Brodeur a rare night off. "Every time you ask me why Yann's not playing,'' Lemaire said. "Now he's playing, (the question is) 'Why is he playing?' All these weeks, all these games, (the question was), 'When's Yann going to play?' The reason was the obvious one, Lemaire said. "Let's say three (Devils) games four nights, he played last night - Marty had a pretty big game (Friday) night,'' he ..."
New York Islanders blast backup Yann Danis in 4-2 win over New Jersey Devils
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March 14
New York Daily News
 
"There isn't enough room for a backup goaltender on the visiting bench at Nassau Coliseum, leaving Martin Brodeur to watch Saturday night from a chair in the runway leading to the Devils' dressing room. Little-used understudy Yann Danis made just his fourth start of the season, but Devils coach Jacques Lemaire thought a second-period letdown and continued sloppiness on the power play cost his team a chance to tie Pittsburgh for the Atlantic Division lead in a 4-2 loss to the Islanders. "We played real strong the first 15 minutes, and then we stopped playing for about 25 minutes," captain Jamie Langenbrunner said. "We just weren't at the level we needed to be.""
John Tavares is left out of Calder talk
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March 14
Toronto Star
 
"When defenceman Tyler Myers contributed a goal and three assists in the Buffalo Sabres 5-3 win over Dallas on Wednesday, it thrust him squarely into the NHL's rookie the year debate along with Colorado's Matt Duchene. Across New York state, in Uniondale, the Islanders' John Tavares once found himself in the same company, but a two-month slump has essentially taken the former first-overall pick out of the discussion, despite a strong showing in the his first 30 games of the season. Tavares, who faces the Leafs here tonight, is aware of the public's perception. He's been under a microscope since he was 13, so any opinion of significance rarely escapes his attention. "It's hard to ignore, ..."
Coliseum falling to pieces
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March 14
New York Post
 
"People have been saying the Nassau Coliseum has been falling apart for years. Now it is -- literally. Strong winds brought down two pieces of the aluminum façade that goes around the entire building at approximately 5:30 yesterday -- about 90 minutes before the Islanders hosted the Devils -- near the box office. The larger piece was 10 feet by 18 feet."
Weight is over: Opts for surgery
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March 14
New York Post
 
"The Islanders' season is all but over and now Doug Weight's officially is. His career, he hopes, is not. The 39-year-old team captain announced yesterday that he will have surgery to repair the torn rotator cuff and labrum in his left shoulder that he has been playing with for the past two months. And although Weight won't be back on the ice this year, he said he intends to return next year. "It's a pretty intrusive surgery, but I'm going into it with aspirations of still playing hockey," Weight said before the Isles hosted the Devils at the Coliseum last night, adding that he's shooting to be 100 percent by September. "I still have the fire in my stomach. My legs feel very strong. The ..."
Devs miss chance on Island
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March 14
New York Post
 
"The Devils are wasting great opportunities, and because of it, they squandered a grand chance to reclaim the Atlantic Division lead. Playing with only mathematical playoff hopes and mostly for pride, the Islanders turned spoilers last night, almost by invitation. They won for only the fourth time in 17 games, beating the Devils 4-2 at Nassau Coliseum, handing New Jersey its ninth loss in 10 games away from Newark. Unable to make a winner of backup Yann Danis in his second start since Nov. 21, the Devils copied some of their futility of the previous night, when they still managed to beat Pittsburgh despite squandering a major power play and a penalty shot."
Season over for Islanders' Weight, maybe career
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March 14
New York Post
 
"The Islanders season is all but over, now Doug Weight's officially is. His career, he hopes, is not. The 39-year-old team captain announced Saturday he will be undergoing surgery to repair the torn rotator cuff and labrum he's been playing with for the past two months. Though he won't be back on the ice this year, he said he intends to return next year. "It's a pretty intrusive surgery, but I'm going into it with aspirations of still playing hockey," Weight said before the Islanders played the Devils at the Coliseum, adding that he's shooting to be 100 percent by September. "I still have the fire in my stomach. My legs feel very strong. The rest will be written in the summer. … But if ..."
New York Islanders captain Doug Weight to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery
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March 14
New York Daily News
 
"Islanders captain Doug Weight's NHL career is in doubt after he announced Saturday that he will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his left shoulder. The 39-year-old center initially suffered the injury in November but delayed having the surgery to try to help the Islanders remain in the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference. With the team 11 points out entering Saturday's game against New Jersey, Weight informed the team of his decision to shut it down before the morning skate at the Coliseum. The surgery will be performed Thursday by Cleveland-based Dr. Tony Minaci. "To be honest with you, it was probably inevitable and I don't know if I ..."
Martin Brodeur sits out as Devils lose to Islanders, 4-2
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March 14
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Jacques Lemaire made just one change in the lineup from the group that defeated the Penguins Friday night in Newark, starting Yann Danis in goal instead of Martin Brodeur. The coach announced the move in his pregame briefing with reporters, and then had a little fun when asked about his decision to give Brodeur a rare night off. "Every time you ask me why Yann's not playing,'' Lemaire said. "Now he's playing, (the question is) 'Why is he playing?' All these weeks, all these games, (the question was), 'When's Yann going to play?' The reason was the obvious one, Lemaire said. "Let's say three (Devils) games four nights, he played last night — Marty had a pretty big game (Friday) night,'' he ..."
Isles use standings as fuel
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March 13
New York Post
 
"Not long ago, Islanders coach Scott Gordon encouraged his players to look at the Eastern Conference standings so they would have an idea of where they were in the playoff race. Now, with their playoff hopes all but dashed, Gordon still does not want the Isles to ignore the standings. "Hopefully, they'll look at the standings and realize what a lousy feeling it is and remember this day, so next year they're not looking at the same situation," Gordon said after the Isles worked out yesterday in Syosset, having lost four in a row heading into tonight's game against the Devils at Nassau Coliseum. Richard Park said he understands what his coach means. "It's definitely a challenge, to see the ..."
Blues edge Islanders
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March 12
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Considering the circumstances, the Blues' performance Thursday against the New York Islanders wasn't what they had in mind. The club is involved in a tight playoff race, and a sloppy start, a number of failed opportunities on the power play and a costly penalty in overtime won't close the gap on most nights. But considering the circumstances, the Blues were elated with a 2-1 shootout win over the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. That's because after a four-day layoff, the team was able to overcome a below-par night and pick up a much-needed victory. "We found a way," said Blues forward Brad Boyes, who along with T.J. Oshie gave the team a 2-0 decision in the shootout. "It was an Eastern ..."
New York Islanders fall to St. Louis Blues
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March 12
New York Daily News
 
"NOW THAT THEY are a season-high 11 points removed from the playoff cutoff in the Eastern Conference, the Islanders appear headed toward their third straight spring without reaching the postseason. If Garth Snow had his way, however, that would not be the case in future years. The Islanders' general manager acknowledged making a proposal at the GM meetings earlier this week in Boca Raton in which teams that finish between eighth and 15th in each conference would play what amounts to a single-elimination "play-in" tournament to qualify for the playoffs as the No.8 seed. "It would be seven games total, and the winner would play three extra games to get the eighth seed in the playoffs," Snow ..."
USC graduate in NHL after 'whirlwind' 4 days
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March 12
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"In four days, Dylan Reese went from surplus minor-league defenseman to Upper St. Clair's next NHL product. "Absolute whirlwind," Reese said. "It was crazy how things changed so quickly." On March 4, the 25-year-old Reese made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders, playing 11 minutes on the third defensive unit in a 6-3 loss at Atlanta. A 6-foot, 205-pound Harvard graduate, Reese is the ninth Pittsburgh-born player to appear in an NHL game since 2005. Reese also joins Tampa Bay winger Ryan Malone as Upper St. Clair's NHL exports at a time when, it seems to Reese, the hockey seeds planted by the Penguins' back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 1990-91 and 1991-92 are reaching maturity. "I ..."
Flyers rally to keep streak against Islanders intact
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March 10
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"WITH TIME running out and two points hanging in the balance, Claude Giroux was tired of waiting. He knew the Flyers wouldn't get many more opportunities. Their 14-game winning streak over the Islanders was the least of his worries. Giroux took a cross-ice pass from Mike Richards just inside the Islanders' blue line and went in unimpeded on Dwayne Roloson - a goaltender the Flyers inquired about at last week's trade deadline - and made Mark Streit pay for a boarding penalty. Giroux's top-shelf, power-play backhand goal knotted the game for the first time since the first period and rallied the Flyers from a two-goal deficit to beat the visiting Islanders, 3-2. The Flyers extended their ..."
Flyers make it 15 straight vs. Islanders
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March 10
New York Post
 
"Obviously, the Flyers still have the Islanders' number. The Isles suffered their 15th straight loss to the Flyers in last night's 3-2 defeat after Simon Gagne's power-play goal broke a third-period tie. Gagne's goal finished off the Flyers' comeback from a 2-0 deficit. His attempted pass to Mike Richards deflected off the stick of Isles defenseman Mark Streit and past goalie Dwayne Roloson with 6:06 remaining. "I thought we played well," Roloson said. "We did the things we had to do to win a hockey game." Jeff Carter and Claude Giroux also scored for the Flyers, who started their streak against the Isles on Feb. 12, 2008. Philadelphia has outscored the Isles 51-25 during the run. John ..."
For Islanders, hex marks the spot
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March 9
New York Post
 
"For a team trying to right itself, a trip to Philadelphia may be the worst thing the Islanders could hope for. They haven't beaten the Flyers in over two years -- a span of 14 games -- and throughout that streak, the Isles have been outmuscled by their opponent. And that doesn't figure to change tonight (7:00; Versus, WMJC, 94.3 FM), now that the team's main physical presence on defense, Andy Sutton, is now in Ottawa. "I don't think anyone feels sorry for themselves," said Scott Gordon, who lamented the team's state after their most recent loss to Boston on Saturday. But if the Isles don't get off to a better start than they have the previous three games, they're likely to fall even ..."
Isles in desperate straits after loss to Bruins
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March 7
New York Post
 
"Not long before yesterday's game against Boston, Scott Gordon talked about the tough spot his team was in, with the Islanders' slim playoff hopes growing fainter by the day. "I think desperation is gonna have to be a constant," Gordon said. And then the Isles were outshot 16-4 in the first period. That slow start, where they found themselves down 1-0 after the first, played a key role in the 3-2 loss to the Bruins at the Coliseum. When asked why the team has started slow in each game since the Olympic break, Dwayne Roloson responded: "That's, I think, a mystery to everyone in this locker room." But it's not a mystery why the Isles will likely have a hard time coming away with a postseason ..."
Puck's bad bounce spells doom for New York Islanders in their 3-2 loss to Boston Bruins
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March 7
New York Daily News
 
"All Dwayne Roloson could do was laugh. Trying to explain the bad break that gave the Bruins what became the game-winning goal in their 3-2 win over the Islanders at the Coliseum Saturday, the Islanders' goaltender was at a loss. Patrice Bergeron's shot from the blue line hit the glass high over Roloson's head and boomeranged back in front of the goal, instead of bouncing away from the net as it would most times. "Being a fairly good mathematician, I know the angles coming in and out, it just didn't match up there," Roloson said about the weird rebound. "It is (a bad break), but at the same time, you have to work for your breaks." By the time Marc Savard tapped in that strange third goal ..."
Islanders' Biron set to move forward
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March 6
New York Post
 
"Martin Biron never expected to be an Islander after Wednesday's trade deadline. But the day went by without general manager Garth Snow being able to move the veteran goalie and with Rick DiPietro out indefinitely with swelling in his surgically repaired left knee, the Islanders likely will need Biron if they have any hope of competing for the final playoff spot. And he said he's ready. "There was a lot of stress leading up [to the deadline] and so much buildup," Biron said after practice yesterday at the Coliseum, where the Islanders will play host to seventh-place Boston today (2:00, MSG Plus, WHLI 1100 AM). "But nothing happened. I talked to [Snow] and Coach [Scott] Gordon and some guys ..."
Devils pay a visit to Sutter
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March 5
Bergen Record
 
"If the Flames were playing a little better, it might be easier for Brent Sutter to say how much he's enjoying coaching in Calgary. With the Flames on the outside of the Western Conference playoff picture and trying to fight their way back in, however, the pressure is on Sutter and his general manager/brother, Darryl, to turn things around in the team's final 19 regular-season games. That makes tonight's game at Pengrowth Saddledome against the Devils - the team Sutter coached the past two seasons - that more important for the Flames. Regardless of the Sutter story line, it's a big one for the Devils as well because they're battling Pittsburgh - which beat the Rangers on Thursday night and ..."
Isles keep goalies for playoff run
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March 4
New York Post
 
"The Islanders started the season with a pair of healthy goaltenders and Rick DiPietro out with a sore left knee. After yesterday's NHL trade deadline, that's where they were again. Team general manager Garth Snow fielded calls about Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron, but ultimately didn't receive any offers that made it worthwhile to move either goalie as the Isles prepare for the final 19 games of the regular season, five points behind eighth-place Boston for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference as they head into tonight's game in Atlanta (MSG+, 7:00). "Coming into the season, we were sitting there with Rick not being healthy and thought it was a great luxury to have two No. 1 ..."
Roloson lifts Islanders in possible audition
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March 3
New York Post
 
"Andy Sutton is out the door, off to Ottawa for a second-round pick. The question for the Islanders is: Who's next? Goalie Rick DiPietro, placed on injured reserve after experiencing swelling in his surgically repaired left knee on Monday, is out indefinitely, with more news expected today. But that doesn't figure to stop general manager Garth Snow from trying to move Dwayne Roloson or Martin Biron -- or one of his other tradable assets -- before today's 3 p.m. deadline. Roloson, for his part, had a good audition in front of the Blackhawks last night, making 41 saves in the Isles' 5-3 win. Though the Isles once again look like sellers, Snow said he is not ready to give up on the season. "We ..."
Sens swap pick for Sutton
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March 2
Ottawa Sun
 
"The Senators have acquired defenceman Andy Sutton from the New York Islanders. Sources told QMI Agency the Senators have given up a second round pick to acquire Sutton. GM Bryan Murray wanted to get a deal done Tuesday in advance of Wednesday's 3 p.m. trade deadline and had been saying he would look for a defenceman to provide depth along the blue line."
Senators acquire Islanders' Andy Sutton to beef up defence
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March 2
Ottawa Citizen
 
"The Ottawa Senators jumped the gun before Wednesday's National Hockey League trade deadline, acquiring defenceman Andy Sutton from the New York Islanders, in exchange for a second-round draft pick. Sutton, 35, will be charged with bringing rock-solid defence, using his size — 6-6 and 245 pounds — to control the front of the Senators' net. A Kingston native, Sutton has scored four goals and eight assists in 54 games. He has 34 goals, 101 assists and 984 penalty minutes in 567 career NHL games."
Islanders stranded indefinitely without DiPietro
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March 2
New York Post
 
"Want to sum up the last few years for Rick DiPietro and the Islanders? The goalie entered the NHL's two-week Olympic break with his surgically repaired knee in good shape and not having missed a practice due to injury since returning on Jan. 6. And now, on the eve of the team's return to the ice tonight against Chicago at the Coliseum, he's out indefinitely with swelling in the knee. Still, the 28-year-old was not terribly discouraged by the news, saying tests showed yesterday that everything is fine structurally with the knee. "It's precautionary," DiPietro said after returning to the team's practice facility after practice, where he worked out. "After seven or eight days off, to kick it ..."
Islanders' DiPietro cheers on Team USA
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February 25
New York Post
 
"Rick DiPietro took off his skates after the Islanders practiced yesterday and watched Ryan Miller put in yet another stellar Olympic performance. With Team USA's 2-0 victory over Switzerland, the Americans are just one win away from Sunday's gold-medal game. It's a far cry from how DiPietro and his teammates did four years ago in Italy, when they went 1-4-1 under Peter Laviolette. "Obviously, I'd rather be watching from Vancouver, but I hope they win . . . and continue to play well," said DiPietro, who spoke during the match's first period. "It's tough. This is something I was looking forward to from the time I got off the plane from Torino, so you watch and wish you were there playing in ..."
Rick DiPietro hopes to be back in net for Team USA in next Olympics
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February 25
New York Daily News
 
"Rick DiPietro acknowledges that Ryan Miller has been "phenomenal" in helping the U.S. hockey team advance to the Olympic semifinals in Vancouver. But the oft-injured Islanders goalie still holds out hope of again competing for his old No. 1 job in the American net in the future. As Miller was in the process of shutting out Switzerland on the television set along the back wall of the dressing room Wednesday, DiPietro was peeling off his equipment after the Isles reconvened for practice at the Coliseum to prepare for the remainder of the regular season. "It's tough. It's something I was looking forward to from the time I got off the plane from Torino," DiPietro said of sitting out the ..."
Isles collapse in 3rd period
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February 15
New York Post
 
"The Islanders wanted to finish strong before the Olympic break. Unfortunately, they appeared to start their break 20 minutes too soon. After taking a 3-1 lead into the third, the Isles failed to convert a minute-long 5-on-3 to start the final period and then allowed three straight goals to fall to Ottawa, 4-3, yesterday at the Coliseum. "It's frustrating," said Blake Comeau, who saw the first two-goal game of his career go to waste. "The playoff race is tight from 12th all the way to sixth. These were two points we definitely needed. It's going to be a big stretch when we get back." The Isles, six points out of the final playoff spot, have 20 games after the two-week break, which Scott ..."
Lightning's defense flounders in 5-4 loss to New York Islanders
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February 14
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Antero Niittymaki made a tremendous right-leg save on the Islanders' Richard Park late in the third period of Saturday's game. But nobody was there to clear out the rebound or challenge Park, who zipped the puck over the Lightning's lunging goalie with 2:22 left to give New York a 5-4 victory at Nassau Coliseum. "That's the house, and that's what we have to protect better," defenseman Matt Walker said. "That should be a war zone for guys going into that area. We have to make it a tougher place to be." Quickly, as the Lightning (26-23-11), with two straight losses, faces the Rangers today at Madison Square Garden. New York is two points behind Tampa Bay in the East. So a win means putting ..."
Islanders get pivotal 5-4 victory over Lightning
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February 14
New York Daily News
 
"What youth movement? Elder statesmen Richard Park and Doug Weight combined for three goals - including Park's score with barely two minutes remaining that was upheld by video review - to propel the Islanders to an important 5-4 matinee win over Tampa Bay on Saturday at the Coliseum. Old hat, indeed. "It was good to see results from a guy like Park, who does so much for the club, and for both of us to contribute," said the 39-year-old Weight, who finally netted the first goal of his injury-filled first season as team captain. "With that monkey off my back, I feel about five to 10 pounds lighter." With Rick DiPietro also shedding weight because of a recent flu bout, third-string goalie ..."
Islanders' Victory Over the Lightning Keeps Tavares Happy in His Goal-Scoring Drought
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February 14
New York Times
 
"John Tavares, the Islanders' 19-year-old center, has not scored a goal in 13 games, or four long weeks, but who is counting? The drought did not seem to matter as much to him Saturday as a hard-earned 5-4 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tavares, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 N.H.L. draft, had two chances to score in a game that included 75 shots on goal, but his backhand sailed wide of the net, and Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman, the No. 2 choice in the draft, broke up an odd-man rush. Tavares, his blue undershirt drenched with perspiration after the game, said he was not tired or discouraged. He is getting scoring chances. He assisted Kyle Okposo on a second-period goal ..."
Tavares focusing on strong finish
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February 14
New York Post
 
"John Tavares and Steve Stamkos both grew up outside of Toronto, played on the same summer team that lost just once in four years, were opponents in juniors and No. 1 picks the last two years. That, however, is where the similarities end. While Stamkos shook off a slow start with Tampa Bay last season and scored 17 of his 23 goals in his last 28 games, Tavares started quickly this year, but has just two goals since Dec. 9. "When you go through a whole year and you come into the next one knowing what to expect, that's an advantage," said Tavares, whose Islanders play host to the Lightning today at the Coliseum (2 p.m.; MSG Plus; WHLI, 1100 AM). "He had a great second half last year and now ..."
Isles catch Lightning from pair of veterans
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February 14
New York Post
 
"While the Islanders' focus is clearly on the future, yesterday, at least, their veterans keyed a 5-4 win over the Lightning at Nassau Coliseum, as the Isles look to close strong before the Olympic break begins after today's game against Ottawa. The Isles got a pair of goals from Richard Park -- the second was the game-winner with 2:22 left in the third period -- as well as a goal from captain Doug Weight, his first of the season. "I want to contribute and count as much as I can," Weight said. "It's a monkey off my back." "Doug's goal got us going and then [Park] worked so hard for his," said goalie Martin Biron, another vet whose recent play has kept the Isles on the fringe of the playoff ..."
Islanders-Lightning scouting report
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February 13
Tampa Tribune
 
"NEED TO KNOW : Tampa Bay is 9-15-5 on the road, where the Lightning have been outscored 101-67. ... New York's 70 goals on home ice are tied for the fewest in the league. ... The Islanders have two wins in their past 10 games, falling seven points behind a playoff spot. ... The Lightning have won the first three meetings between the teams this season, including a 4-2 win at Nassau Coliseum on Dec. 21. ... C Steven Stamkos has eight goals and 11 assists during an 11-game scoring streak. The 20-year-old is coming off a career-high three assists Thursday against Boston. ... RW Marty St. Louis has nine goals and five assists during an eight-game scoring streak. ... G Antero Niittymaki is ..."
Tavares focusing on strong finish
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February 13
New York Post
 
"John Tavares and Steve Stamkos both grew up outside of Toronto, played on the same summer team that lost just once in four years, were opponents in juniors and No. 1 picks the last two years. That, however, is where the similarities end. While Stamkos shook off a slow start with Tampa Bay last season and scored 17 of his 23 goals in his last 28 games, Tavares started quickly this year, but has just two goals since Dec. 9. "When you go through a whole year and you come into the next one knowing what to expect, that's an advantage," said Tavares, whose Islanders play host to the Lightning today at the Coliseum (2 p.m.; MSG Plus; WHLI, 1100 AM). "He had a great second half last year and now ..."
Malkin, Kunitz bop Isles
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February 11
New York Post
 
"Unfortunately for the Islanders on a night they outplayed by the Penguins for some lengthy stretches, Evgeni Malkin knows what to do when the puck finds his stick. Malkin took advantage of a couple of favorable bounces to score a goal and set up one of Chris Kunitz's two goals and the Penguins bounced back from a pair of road losses to beat the slumping Islanders 3-1 last night. "It's tough. When you have guys like [Sidney] Crosby and Malkin on the ice, those guys make things happen," Islanders coach Scott Gordon said. "It's pretty consistent with every shift they have. That's where their team is at now, and that's where we aspire to be." With Kunitz scoring his first two goals since Dec. ..."
Penguins upstage Islanders in rough contest
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February 11
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"In one of the season's nastiest games, the Penguins received a stellar performance from goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and a big night from Evgeni Malkin in a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders at Mellon Arena. Chris Kunitz added two goals. After 10 uneventful minutes, the Islanders nearly took a lead in the first period. Defenseman Kris Letang, however, made a marvelous diving play to deny Matt Moulson a goal. Moments later, while the puck was somewhere underneath Letang, Islanders rookie John Tavaras took a violent whack near the defenseman's face. A brief melee followed, though neither team was awarded a power play. Later in the period, the Islanders again nearly scored. While on the ..."
Penguins Notebook: Winter storms cause few problems for players
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February 11
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Penguins made Wednesday's morning skate optional -- not just for going onto the ice but for coming to Mellon Arena. Yet most of the players showed up despite poor road conditions caused by a second snowstorm in less than a week. Maybe that had something to do with the fact that most of those on the team grew up in snow country. "I thought the roads were not that bad," said coach Dan Bylsma, who is from Michigan. "There's some snow on them in certain areas. I came in at a slow pace and it was fine. Just with the amount of snow around, it can be difficult in certain areas, but it was beautiful coming in." Center Sidney Crosby, from Nova Scotia, said the difference is in what people -- ..."
Kunitz sparks Penguins in 3-1 defeat of Islanders
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February 11
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"It has been a long time since Chris Kunitz felt this good. Sometime last fall, probably. Before the pain in his abdomen started. Before he realized that a muscle there had been damaged badly enough that surgery was the only practical solution. Kunitz still isn't quite 100 percent -- the Penguins' 3-1 victory Wednesday night against the New York Islanders was just his second back in the lineup -- but he doesn't look that far from it, either. The layoff certainly wasn't evident Wednesday night, when he complemented his usual strong physical game -- he tied for the team lead with three hits -- by scoring the Penguins' first and third goals. Perhaps Kunitz won't make a habit of getting goals ..."
SO good: Islanders snap skid
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February 10
New York Post
 
"The Islanders had lost games like this over the past two weeks, but Mark Streit's power-play goal with 11.1 remaining in regulation helped them snap a seven-game skid and at least temporarily gave the Islanders some hope in a season that was looking bleaker by the day. "It felt like an overtime game winner in the playoffs, especially with the way things have been going lately," goalie Martin Biron said after the Isles beat Nashville 4-3 in a shootout last night at the Coliseum. "This was big. Maybe it will switch the momentum on our side." The Isles have three games remaining before the Olympic break and the March 3 trade deadline falls right after they return. It will be up to GM Garth ..."